Local Canoe Routes
Mississippi River - St. Cloud to Clearwater (12.4 miles)(3-5 hours depending on water level)
This is the most popular local route that starts at the South End of the SCSU Campus and ends in Clearwater just upstream from the Hwy 24 bridge. The first leg of the trip winds through the 30 Beaver Islands that are much like what Zebulon Pike saw when he travelled through in 1805. The trip is rich with wildlife including bald eagles, beavers, whitetail deer, turkeys and a wide assortment of waterfowl.

Mississippi River - St. Cloud to River Bluffs Regional Park (3.1 miles)(1-2 hours depending on water level)
This is the newest local route that starts at the South End of the SCSU Campus and ends in River Bluffs Regional Park just off Roosevelt Road. The route offers the greatest opportunity to explore the Beaver Islands and is a great choice for those with limited time to be on the water. Additionally, the stretch is a world class smallmouth bass fishery that attracts anglers from across the country.

Sauk River - Cold Spring to Knights of Columbus Park (17.5 miles)(5-6 hours depending on water level)
This local route can has numerous access point for shorter trips. Flowing from Lake Osakis the Sauk river is smaller and meanders as it makes it's way to the Mississippi River confluence. The Sauk River offers outstanding fishing & bird watching with lot's of herons, kingfishers and waterfowl. While some choose to paddle beyond the Knights of Columbus Park, we generally discourage it. The river below this point has steep banks, lot's of trees spanning the river and a number of rapids and areas of past construction debris and concrete, including rebar all of which is a hazard to the novice paddler.

Canoe & Kayak Trailer Rentals

We have a number of canoe & kayak trailers available for rent to transport boats. These trailers are available for $35 per day when reserved in advance. The rental of the trailers DO NOT include the cost of canoes or kayaks. All trailers have a standard 2" ball hitch and flat wiring harness.

Policies
-No glass bottles or alcohol are allowed on any shuttle!
-It is highly recommended that each person boating wear the USCG life jacket provided by Outdoor Endeavors.
-The renter is required to sign a release and is ultimately responsible for the actions of those they paddle with.
-OE reserves the right to refuse to those that a perceived to be unfit to engage in canoeing or kayaking activities.
-There are no refunds for shuttles cancelled due to violations of this policy.
-Outdoor Endeavors operates under the best practices established by the paddlesports industry and boating laws established by the State of Minnesota and expects its patrons to do the same.

Restrictions
Outdoor Endeavors does not run shuttles or offer rentals when the Mississippi River, below the St. Cloud dam is running above 10,000 cubic feet per second or more. The river is moving fast at the put in and inexperienced boaters are at risk of capsize at the start of their trip. Outdoor Endeavors reserves sole discretion and the right to refuse rental of canoes & kayaks if the conditions are deemed unsafe or the renter has insufficient experience for the conditions.

Current Regional River Conditions